Mutual funds give thumbs down to PSUs
Major public sector companies, once treasured for rich natural assets holdings, monopolies in certain businesses and a dominant presence in others, have gone out of favour with domestic mutual funds. Over the past 12 months, mutual funds have significantly pared their holdings in bluechip state-owned undertakings amid concern that the government is increasingly intervening in their business.
According to information collated by The Indian Express, domestic mutual funds and UTI have reduced their holding in five out of the six PSUs that are part of the Sensex, the benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Mutual fund holding has dropped significantly in power equipment major BHEL (from 7.03 per cent in March 2011 to 1.44 in March 2012), while in four other PSUs — GAIL, ONGC, NTPC and Coal India Ltd — MFs have pared their exposure, though not so dramatically.
The only exception has been State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank, in which mutual funds and UTI improved their holdings marginally. Compared to 4.22 per cent last March, MF holding in SBI is 4.81 per cent now.
While PSUs have gone out of favour, 14 of the remaining 24 companies on the Sensex have seen the stake of mutual funds in them rise. In nine others, mutual funds cut their share.
The waning interest has not only eroded the valuation of PSUs, but also pulled down the broad market movement. In the 12 months ending March 31, 2012, the 30-share Sensex lost 10.5 per cent. But the 60-stock PSU index fell much
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